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[Fedster + 1,307]

Home Secretary urged to review firearms assessment procedures.

 

Date - 27th August 2018
By - JJ Hutber- Police Oracle

4 Comments

 

Families and friends of gun applicants should have a say in police decisions to approve licences, a coroner said in an official report.

John Hill, 77, was found collapsed and unresponsive in his living room on May 26 last year after shooting himself in the head.

He was granted a firearms licence by Dorset Police’s Firearms Unit just six weeks earlier.

According to a Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths addressed to Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Chief Constable James Vaughan, Mr Hill’s son had no idea his father was applying for a firearms licence.

Mr Hill had told his son and daughter that “when the time came” he would end his life with a rifle.

Although a Dorset Police Firearms Enquiry Officer saw Mrs Hill when she went to interview Mr Hill on March 20, no enquiries were made with her or the rest of Mr Hill’s family.

The Home Office Guide on Firearms Licencing Law issued in April 2016 states family, friends and associates of an applicant should be consulted where there is intelligence of domestic abuse but there is no reference to speaking with relatives or friends under any other circumstances.

The Dorset Firearms and Explosive Risk Licencing Risk Management Procedure also states family and friends will not be contacted as standard as procedure but only where there is evidence of domestic abuse.

“Evidence was given that it would be beneficial for the Firearms Unit at Dorset Police to write to those living with the applicant to invite them to raise any concerns they wish to in relation to the application” Senior Coroner Rachael Griffin wrote.

“Although this may not be responded to, at least it gives those close to the applicant a chance to raise their concerns.

“There may be for example domestic violence ongoing at the address that has not been brought to the Police Force’s attention due to lack of reporting. This could be key to the firearm application.”

People close to the applicant could have “vital information” unrelated to domestic abuse “key to preventing a future death”, Ms Griffin said.

“In view of this I would request that consideration is given to reviewing that national and local guidance in relation to assessment criteria and enquiries to be considered regarding applications for firearms certificates, and for consideration to be given that those enquiries involve the applicant’s family members, or at the very least those living with the applicant.”

Dorset Police and the Home Office were under a duty to respond by August 20.

Police Oracle has contacted the Home Office for comment.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Every firearms licensing application is considered on its own merits and in line with national guidance.

“We are aware of the report from the coroner and will be liaising with the National Police Chief’s Council to ensure full consideration is given to our firearms licensing policy in line with the national position.”

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[Ether + 1,401]

Where there are domestic issues a family may be spoken with, but they shouldn’t have a ‘say’ as the article puts it. 

Moreover disclosure to anyone not residing with the applicant is surely against the right to a private life. 

I am all for proper and intelligent firearm control, but not the constant erosion of a decent member of the public’s ability to own one. 

[obsidian_eclipse + 1,202]

It's interesting when it comes to firearms, of course mental health conditions need to be properly evaluated and the risks associated with the wider public, but why would a suicide be the impulse for greater regulations? I would hazard the majority of suicides are performed by other means, at least is firearms weren't available they would still be. The need to quiz relations and family members, to give them a say, seems a rather drastic overstep unless we begin questioning people for purchasing knives or painkillers.

[Radman + 2,163]

One mans tragic suicide triggers a reform in firearm legislation at central government yet the numerous suicides that occur up and down the country on Britain's railways prompt no such response? 

The sad fact is if you're a white, male you are far more likely to kill yourself than any other group in the country... Why is this?

I don't have the answer but suicide amongst white men is one of those statistics which simply isn't talked about and is buried - how about we start a review on why this man killed himself not the method he ultimately chose, if he was determined to kill himself he could have put himself on a high speed mainline or used any number of other methods.

That's my opinion anyway.

Edited August 27, 2018 by Radman

[Growley + 2,436]

In fairness, having personal references is already part of the firearms certification process. Some things you just can't control without unreasonably restricting people's personal freedoms.

But again, the fear of firearms amongst a population largely ignorant of them is likely to drive policy.

[Jeebs + 1,190]

Well the government couldn’t possible change firearms licensing to the detrament of thousands of licence holders because of the actions of a small minority or maybe even individuals.......could they?!!!

I can’t understand why there is such a move towards reducing the number of licenced firearms holders in the U.K and the attempts to make it more difficult to acquire a licence. Yes this is clearly tragic, but it doesn’t warrant changes to the current system, much like the shootings at Dunblane and Hungerford. 

If you’re suicidal and don’t have access to firearms, then you can still suicide. It’s not as if firearms are the only way to harm yourself. I’d be very interested to see the number of suicides involving firearms compared to other methods, because clearly there is something I’m missing.

[Radman + 2,163]

17 minutes ago, Jeebs said:

Well the government couldn’t possible change firearms licensing to the detrament of thousands of licence holders because of the actions of a small minority or maybe even individuals.......could they?!!!

I can’t understand why there is such a move towards reducing the number of licenced firearms holders in the U.K and the attempts to make it more difficult to acquire a licence. Yes this is clearly tragic, but it doesn’t warrant changes to the current system, much like the shootings at Dunblane and Hungerford. 

If you’re suicidal and don’t have access to firearms, then you can still suicide. It’s not as if firearms are the only way to harm yourself. I’d be very interested to see the number of suicides involving firearms compared to other methods, because clearly there is something I’m missing.

This is the problem - we aren't trusted in the UK as private citizens. There is no concept of personal responsibility, it has been slowly eroded and removed instead out right banned or replaced with overbearing legislation. 

You can't smoke in a nightclub anymore.

You aren't trusted to drink fizzy pop sensibly anymore (have you tried the 'improved' sugar light drinks out there? awful!) 

Almost all firearms banned/heavily restricted unless you jump through a 1000 hoops, undergo background checks and forfeit your right to groundless searches of your home. (Which is effectively what you agree to when you become a firearm owner.)

Our Olympic pistol shooting team can't even train in mainland Britain anymore.

We really are a nanny state where no one is trusted, individuals cause problems and the majority end up suffering because of these individuals. What I would give to have a more Libertarian, traditional style government in charge who could undo some of the damage over the last 30 years or so.

If you are so determined to kill yourself you will do so and find a method of doing so, trust me I have attended enough suicides in my career to know this first hand and frankly the coroner should also be well aware of this.

Edited August 27, 2018 by Radman

[Growley + 2,436]

13 hours ago, Radman said:

If you are so determined to kill yourself you will do so and find a method of doing so, trust me I have attended enough suicides in my career to know this first hand and frankly the coroner should also be well aware of this.

Having heard some of their suggestions following Police interaction with armed criminals, I'm not surprised by anything they come out with.